For years, the idea has been repeated that having plants in the bedroom is harmful because at night they “consume oxygen” and could hinder breathing. However, science has proven this to be a myth: the amount of oxygen they absorb is insignificant for human health.
In the absence of light, plants stop photosynthesizing and switch to cellular respiration, a process in which they absorb oxygen and expel carbon dioxide. However, the numbers dispel any alarm. According to calculations by scientist Martin Gent in 70 Curious Questions About Science (Siruela, 2013), over the course of a night, a person consumes between 2% and 3% of the oxygen in a closed 20 m2 room*, while a potted plant barely consumes 0.1%. Compared to sleeping with another person or a pet, the impact of a plant is negligible.
Adding to this confusion was the popularization of a 1989 NASA study, which many interpreted as proof that plants could decisively influence indoor air. In reality, that study, led by researcher Bill Wolverton, did not analyze oxygen consumption, but rather the ability of certain species to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in closed environments, such as laboratories or space habitats.
Subsequent evidence tempered that enthusiasm. In 2019, a review published in Nature by Michael Waring (Drexel University, USA) analyzed more than 190 previous experiments and concluded that the effect of plants in everyday spaces is very limited. To achieve the same impact as normal one-hour ventilation, it would be necessary to place between 100 and 1,000 plants in a single room.
Therefore, sleeping with plants in the bedroom poses no risk. Although they absorb oxygen during the night and expel carbon dioxide, the amount is minimal and does not affect health. The key, as experts remind us, is to keep the room ventilated at least once a day for an hour, a sufficient measure to guarantee the air quality in any home.
In return, plants provide real benefits: they decorate, help create a more pleasant environment, and can reduce stress, contributing to a greater sense of well-being at home.
